De-standardisation and differentiation of retirement trajectories in the context of extended working lives in the Netherlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 890-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aart-Jan Riekhoff
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Register Data ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Market Withdrawal ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Labour Market Participation

During recent decades, labour market participation among older workers in the Netherlands has increased significantly. Postponing workers’ labour market withdrawal potentially makes their retirement patterns more uncertain and less predictable. This article uses Dutch register data to analyse de-standardisation and differentiation of retirement trajectories of men and women born between 1940 and 1946 for the age bracket of 59–65 ( N = 12,843). The results indicate that retirement trajectories of men have become more homogeneous, whereas those of women somewhat more heterogeneous. Simultaneously, retirement patterns of both men and women became more complex from one birth year to another.

Retirement or committed to work?

2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Winkelmann‐Gleed
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Positive Elements ◽  
Labour Market Participation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a UK older worker's perspective on the influences of multiple work and non‐work related commitments on their decision to extend working lives or to retire. As demographic change and economic challenges related to the financing of health care and pension plans affect retirement policies, this paper seeks to explore the individual worker's perspective. Their choice is framed by seeking to balance financial security in later life with the positive elements of work and the desire to match work with other commitments, something hardly taken into consideration by employers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines findings from existing research studies and UK based, semi‐structured interviews conducted as part of two ESF (European Social Fund) funded projects aiming at extending labour market participation for older workers. Key areas, such as retirement planning, training, flexibility and health are explored and the organisational identities/commitment literature provides a conceptual framework for understanding the push and pull factors associated with labour market exit among the over 50s.FindingsFundamental to the success of changes in government pension policies in terms of extending labour market participation of older workers is the element of individual agency rather than a view of victimisation. Viewing older workers as the ones who have to pay for increasing life expectancy by working longer could lead to people staying in work for the wrong reasons, negatively affecting productivity and job satisfaction. The discussion and conclusion stress the need for deeper understanding of work as one contributor to overall quality of life.Originality/valueThe political agenda to prolong working lives is principally driven by economic arguments. However, for any future policies to lead to an intrinsic motivation to want to remain in work, the voices of older workers express the desire to combine work with non‐work related commitments and identities. Achieving such balance could benefit the whole labour force.

The Dutch ‘Miracle’ Revisited: The Impact of Employment Growth on Poverty

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
IVE MARX
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Employment Growth ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
The Impact

The past decade has been marked by the coming to prominence of social policy doctrines at the centre of which sits the idea that poverty reduction is best achieved through increased levels of labour market participation. A major reference point in the debate is the Netherlands, where a radical policy shift from passive benefit adequacy towards boosting labour market participation was initiated around the late 1980s and where it has been vigorously pursued since. The Netherlands is routinely praised for achieving a meteoric rise in employment, while maintaining extensive social protection and low levels of poverty and inequality. This article shows that unprecedented employment growth during the 1980s and 1990s went accompanied with comparatively small reductions in absolute poverty and a rise in relative poverty among the working-age population. These developments are linked to the main features of Dutch economic and social policy. The article also draws out some general lessons.

scholarly journals Effects of Generational Competition and Substitution on Late Labour Participation and Labour Market Exit from a Multilevel Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henriette Engelhardt ◽  
Christopher Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Cohort Size ◽  
Market Participation ◽  
Early Exit ◽  
Market Structures ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
Negative Effect

In this paper, we investigate the effects of demographic, economic and labour market structures on labour market participation and on the transition to inactivity (exit) for older males in eleven European countries. Theoretically, our analysis is guided by considerations of intragenerational competition and intergenerational substitution. Following Easterlin’s hypothesis that intragenerational competition rises with cohort size, we assume a negative effect of cohort size on labour market participation and a positive effect on early exit from the labour market. Taking into account that different cohorts are substitutes at least to a certain extent, we assume that the probability of an early exit will be reduced by a high intergenerational exchange ratio in favour of older workers. Thus, labour market participation is influenced by the populations’ age structure both when entering the labour force and during the career. Moreover, low shares of graduates in older cohorts are expected to reduce older workers’ chances of labour market participation. In addition to demographic structures, general economic conditions, such as per capita GDP and its development over time, act both to further and to hamper the employment of older workers. Additionally, labour market structures, such as unemployment rates, the extent of part-time work or the amount of service jobs influence individual participation and the transition to inactivity. To test these hypotheses, we use merged data from the first two waves of SHARE and macro-level indicators from Eurostat. We estimate a two-level random-intercept logit model which allows us to determine the share of variance in international late careers that can be attributed to country-specific factors and can quantify the relative impact of specific socio-demographic and socio-economic backgrounds. Our results imply that cross-national variance in labour market participation is mainly driven by the instance of long-term unemployment and the share of highly-educated older men. While our analyses reveal some evidence of intragenerational competition, we do not find evidence of intergenerational competition forcing early exit or decreasing participation.

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